Henby wilson



. UNITED STATES PATENT (')EEICEQ` HENRY WILSON, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

SKELETON SKATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,530, dated November3, 1863.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY WILSON, ofBinghamton, in the county of Broome and State ot' New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Skeleton Skates-that is, suchskates as may be secured to the foot without the addition of straps orsimilar fastenin gs and I do hereby declare th at the following is afull, clear, and exact description ot' the constructio'n and operationof the same, reference being had to the annexed photograph, making apart of this specification, and tothe letters ot' reference markedthereof.

A represents a skate bar or iron, armed at the inner side of thebackward end with one or more points, or their equivalent, torl reactingagainst the springs B B, and also for securing the heel ofthe boot orshoe to its position on the plate C, the one extremity of the springs BB being secured to the heel-post G, and the other to the crainp D, whichis free tov move back and forth 011 the forward part' ot' the skate baror iron, by means ot the box E on the under side ot' said cram p D.

In case foreign substances should deface the ice, and the skaters suddencontact with them further distend the springs, the point vofthe hook Fmay be brought in contact with the inner side ot' the heel of the hootor shoe, and compelled to penetrate it by turning a thumb-nut on theother end of the hook, the pressure of the nut acting against thebackward part of the skate-bar or heel-post, which the screw end of thehook pierces.

Operation The boot or shoe of the skater being wedge-shaped, or wideningfrom the toe toward the ball, we will readily see that this skate may berinly secured to his boot or shoe by inserting the toe between the curlsoi' the cramp, described above, and distending the springs by drawingthe skate backward until the point or points shall pass the heel, and bythe action ot' the springs penetrate it on the backward side. Furthersecurity to the heel may be had by bringing the point of the hook F incontact with the inner side of the heel of the boot or shoe, and turningthe thumb-nut, as described above. The same skates may be used onseveral sizes of boots or shoes, as the position of the cramp isdetermined by the width of the bootor shoe.

I claiml. The cramp D,con1hined with springs and points, as describedabove, and for the purposes set forth herein.

2. The hook, with its screw and thumb-nut, or their equivalent, forassisting the springs in securing the whole to thc foot, as abovedescribed.

HENRY WILSON.

Witnesses SOLOMON J UDD, S. W. ROGERS.

